Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination and COVID-19 in kidney transplant patients

Comprehensive Review of Urinary Tract Infections in Renal Transplant Recipients: Clinical Insights and Management Strategies

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) pose a significant challenge in the care of renal transplant recipients. This comprehensive review explores this population's multifaceted landscape of UTIs, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and tailored management strategies. Renal transplant recipients face an elevated risk of UTIs due to immunosuppression, altered urinary tract anatomy, and complex comorbidities. Complications of UTIs can lead to graft dysfunction and systemic illness, underscoring the need for effective management. The emergence of multidrug-resistant uropathogens adds complexity to treatment, highlighting the importance of targeted antibiotic therapy. Antibiotics are the most commonly prescribed drugs for UTIs, with nitrofurantoin, fosfomycin, amoxicillin, and amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium being some of the commonly used antibiotics. However, the emergence of multidrug-resistant uropathogens has led to the exploration of alternative treatments, such as bacteriophage therapy, as a potential alternative against multidrug-resistant uropathogenic bacteria. Analgesics such as phenazopyridine can be prescribed to relieve discomfort associated with UTIs. Estrogen therapy has also been suggested as a potential treatment option for UTIs, particularly in postmenopausal women. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or trimethoprim is recommended as first-line therapy for uncomplicated UTIs. The choice of drug and therapy for UTIs depends on the severity of the infection, the causative organism, and the presence of antibiotic resistance. Preventive measures encompass pre-transplant evaluation, perioperative strategies, post-transplant follow-up, and vaccination. A multidisciplinary approach involving transplant specialists, infectious disease experts, pharmacists, and patient engagement is vital for successful care. The future of UTI management lies in ongoing research, exploring personalized medicine, novel therapies, and innovative prevention strategies. By implementing these strategies and advancing research, healthcare providers can improve graft and patient survival, enhancing the quality of care for renal transplant recipients.

Vaccination against influenza viruses reduces infection, not hospitalization or death, from respiratory COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19 and has brought a huge burden in terms of human lives. Strict social distance and influenza vaccination have been recommended to avoid co-infections between influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2. Scattered reports suggested a protective effect of influenza vaccine on COVID-19 development and severity. We analyzed 51 studies on the capacity of influenza vaccination to affect infection with SARS-CoV-2, hospitalization, admission to Intensive Care Units (ICU), and mortality. All subjects taken into consideration did not receive any anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, although their status with respect to previous infections with SARS-CoV-2 is not known. Comparison between vaccinated and not-vaccinated subjects for each of the four endpoints was expressed as odds ratio (OR), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs); all analyses were performed by DerSimonian and Laird model, and Hartung-Knapp model when studies were less than 10. In a total of 61 029 936 subjects from 33 studies, influenza vaccination reduced frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection [OR plus 95% CI = 0.70 (0.65-0.77)]. The effect was significant in all studies together, in health care workers and in the general population; distance from influenza vaccination and the type of vaccine were also of importance. In 98 174 subjects from 11 studies, frequency of ICU admission was reduced with influenza vaccination [OR (95% CI) = 0.71 (0.54-0.94)]; the effect was significant in all studies together, in pregnant women and in hospitalized subjects. In contrast, in 4 737 328 subjects from 14 studies hospitalization was not modified [OR (95% CI) = 1.05 (0.82-1.35)], and in 4 139 660 subjects from 19 studies, mortality was not modified [OR (95% CI) = 0.76 (0.26-2.20)]. Our study emphasizes the importance of influenza vaccination in the protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection.